Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Notre Dame senior DL Sheldon Day "brings much-needed burst and agility to the Irish line as they try to improve their pass rush," notes Sports on Earth's Matt Brown.

"Day was one of several Fighting Irish defenders to run into injury problems last year, but his return for his senior season is a big boost for this defense that is primed for at turnaround," Brown wrote. The analyst pegs Day as the No. 84 player in the sport. The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder had only 7.5 TFL and one sack in 2014 while suffering through a knee injury.

Notre Dame senior C Nick Martin dealt with a number of injuries during his 2014 season.

"While his performance in 2014 didn’t grade out at the top of the heap, the fact that he played through multiple maladies likely only made him more admirable in the linemen’s meeting room," NBC Sports' Keith Arnold writes regarding Martin's captain status. Martin played left guard last season, joining ND's top offensive player Ronnie Stanley to form an outstanding left side of the offensive line. Nick is Zack Martin's younger brother.

He played in all 13 games last year, but most of his work came on special teams. McGlinchey, a four-star recruit in 2013, made his first career start at RT versus LSU in the Music City Bowl. He "now appears set to be a key piece of the puzzle as the right tackle opposite star left tackle Ronnie Stanley," wrote Brown. "He'll actually be protecting the quarterback's blind side, as Malik Zaire is a lefty."

"Smith has already won the Butkus Award as the nation's top high school linebacker -- now he's looking to win the Butkus Award that goes to the top collegiate linebacker. While he doesn't have exceptional size (6-foot-2, 235 pounds), Smith is an excellent tackler. Few can match his quickness to the ball and he has great natural instincts," Reuter wrote. The Notre Dame prospect has made an immediate impact since arriving in South Bend, as Smith has been a starter since his freshman season. Last season, Smith earned Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Butkus Award. Smith lead the Irish in total tackles (112) and recorded nine tackles for loss.

ESPN's Mel Kiper sees Notre Dame senior DL Sheldon Day as a defensive end in the NFL and will evaluate him that way.

Day is a bit of 'tweener; some see a light defensive tackle, some see a short defensive end. Either way, Kiper ranks him as the No. 5 senior defensive end prospect in the nation. "Expect to see the 6-2, 285-pound Day on some rankings as a defensive tackle, but I'm keeping him here based on what he's asked to do for the Irish and how I project him," Kiper wrote. "He was limited over the last three games of the 2014 season with a minor knee injury but will be back at 100 percent." Day only had 7.5 TFL and one sack in 2014 while suffering through that knee injury.

NBC Sports' Keith Arnold points out head coach Brian Kelly has called it "an NCAA issue now." Summer school ends on July 24 and Williams was reinstated this June after missing last season as part of an academic fraud investigation. If he is not cleared academically by the NCAA, Williams might spend his final season on the scout team.

Sports on Earth's Matt Brown documents that Notre Dame redshirt junior T Ronnie Stanley "could have gone to the NFL and likely been a top-20 pick, but he chose to return to school, making him a possible top-five selection next year."

"With prototypical size, Stanley moves well, staying balanced with enough lateral quickness to keep faster pass rushers in front of him. He allowed just one sack last year, and he's also physical in the run game," Brown wrote. "The Irish are loaded with talent entering the 2015 season, and Stanley is the best player on the roster." Brown says Stanley is the best offensive lineman in the nation. Rotoworld's Josh Norris mocked Stanley No. 3 to the Raiders in his first 2016 draft exercise. We're extremely high on him, ranking Stanley as the top OL prospect in the land.

"The decision between Myles Jack and Smith was a very difficult one," Zierlein wrote in ranking Smith as the No. 2 linebacking prospect entering the fall. "He's in the same league as Jack from an explosiveness standpoint and can unlatch from blocks to pounce on runners like a puma," he wrote. "Smith looks like a better version of 2015 first-round pick Shaq Thompson on tape and Smith plays way stronger at the point of attack than I expected." The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Smith reminds NFL Media colleague Daniel Jeremiah of Patrick Willis.

Laremy Tunsil's fractured ankle played a role in Drango hopping over him in the prediction. Regardless, Drango is headed towards a "long career in the NFL," according to Reuter, while Stanley "had the potential to be an early first-round pick in the 2015 draft" before returning to school.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Russell was suspended for the 2014 season during an academic fraud investigation. "But there's no doubt that Russell understands how to use his length and was above-average at disrupting receivers from press coverage," Zierlein wrote. "With the footwork to mirror and match on the outside, look for Russell to make a big splash for a very talented Notre Dame defense in 2015." Zierlein ranks Russell as the No. 8 defensive back in the nation.

Notre Dame senior C Nick Martin's "sturdy run blocking will be a valuable asset as the Irish mix in more read-option looks with Malik Zaire at quarterback," notes Sports on Earth's Matt Brown.

Zack's little brother has started 24 games over the last two years at guard, but he's kicking inside to man center as a senior. We like his fit on the interior in the NFL, just as we did with older sibling Zack, who went from tackle in college to guard in the pros. Brown grades the younger Martin as the No. 24 offensive lineman in the country.

Notre Dame senior DL Sheldon Day "can line up anywhere on the Fighting Irish defensive line, with a 6-foot-2, 285-pound frame and impressive power and quickness," writes Sports on Earth's Matt Brown.

"An explosive player," Brown wrote. "Day isn't totally consistent yet, and last year a knee sprain limited him late in the season." The analyst grades Day as the No. 8 defensive tackle in the country. "With a deeper Notre Dame defense in year two of coordinator Brian VanGorder's scheme, Day has an opportunity to develop into a star," Brown wrote. Day only had 7.5 TFL and one sack in 2014 while suffering through that knee injury.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly reiterated that he has no interest in coaching in the NFL.

"I don’t know how to stop that other than to say there’s no other place, first of all, in college that I would want to coach," Kelly said. "No. 2, I get to pick the players that play for me, I get to negotiate the contracts. I’ve got the salary cap, I’ve got all that. In the NFL, you don’t get to do any of that. Look what [Philadelphia Eagles head coach] Chip Kelly‘s going through. He tries to control all that and he gets killed for it. I can do all that here at Notre Dame." Kelly has maintained this stance throughout his tenure with the Irish. Clearly, he's irritated by the persistent NFL questions, but he's going to keep getting them regardless of his intentions. "Bill Belichick gets control over that but he’s won [four] Super Bowls," Brian Kelly continued. "I needed to know that to make sure I wanted to do what I was doing. After seeing that and after talking to a number of guys that I know in the NFL, it’s crazy."

"Has started since he arrived in South Bend, but missed the 2014 season due to suspension," Kiper wrote. "Made the right call to come back and with a big season he could be in the first-round mix." The 5-foot-11, 190-pound defensive back, who has 26 career starts, has 109 career tackles and three interceptions. We can't wait to see him back on the field.

"He has the quickness and leverage to live in the backfield, but for whatever reason, he doesn't have the pass-rushing production to match the traits," Zierlein wrote. "With his rare quickness and eye-popping change of direction, I don't see why his production shouldn't skyrocket this season." The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder had only 7.5 TFL and one sack in 2014 while suffering through a knee injury.